* ContestedSequel: Universally agreed to be the weakest installment of the franchise. Also considered an unnecessary sequel after the series seemed to come to a logical conclusion after the very dark and edgy ''Film/SuddenImpact''. That being said, however, it does have its fair share of fans like the other ''Dirty Harry'' sequels.
* FranchiseOriginalSin: All of ''The Dead Pool'''s problems can be seen in ''Film/SuddenImpact''. Harry, arguably a heroic fascist [[note]] if one ignores ''Film/MagnumForce''[[/note]], worked best in the Seventies when attitudes towards crime and criminals were more liberal. The eighties were far more conservative and a cop like Harry is the rule, rather than the exception.
* HarsherInHindsight: At one point, the police think Liam Neeson's character is the killer, before they realize someone is trying to make them think that. This gets a lot more difficult to see after Neeson admitted he considered killing someone back in his youth.
* HilariousInHindsight:
** No, ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} of Creator/MarvelComics fame was not named after this movie. The concept of a "dead pool" predates them both.
** Music/GunsNRoses' song "Welcome to the Jungle", which appeared in this film with Johnny Squares lip-syncing it in his ''Hotel Satan'' music video shoot, would later appear in promos for ''Film/JumanjiWelcomeToTheJungle'' (which featured Tim Matheson, who played one of the villainous vigilante cops, Phil Sweet, in ''Film/MagnumForce''), the sequel to ''Film/{{Jumanji}}'' (which featured Creator/PatriciaClarkson, who plays the journalist Samantha in this film, as Alan Parrish's mother).
** Fans of ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' will probably laugh at the real life [=RC-XD=] trying to blow up Harry's car.
** At the beginning of the movie, when being chased by criminals, Harry can be heard saying, [[Film/GranTorino "Get off my ass."]]
** Creator/JimCarrey has a small role in this movie. In ''Film/TheMask'' and ''Film/BruceAlmighty'', he'd later do his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op5jke-f-Bw best]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MerNyFG2A8s impressions]] of ''Dirty Harry''.
* {{Narm}}:
** The celebrity killer attempts to blow up Harry Callahan's car with a modified [=RC=] car infused with [=C4=]. However, the attempt fails when some kid playing with his own [=RC=] car interferes with the bomb-car's radio frequency. Instead of waiting for another opportunity, the killer starts a downright hilarious and awesome ''Film/{{Bullitt}}'' style [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTLXJcW3NYo RC car chase]] across UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco. It gets especially funny when it dawns on you that Harry's driving a massive 8-cylinder sedan and yet somehow has trouble outrunning a ''radio-controlled toy''. That must have been a hell of a modification, not to mention the insane skill the pursuer would need in driving both the RC vehicle and his own car at the same time in a high-speed chase.
** It is impossible to watch Creator/JimCarrey perform as Johnny Squares in his ''Hotel Satan'' music video shoot without laughing (even though it's not meant to be funny in the movie) [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSbVJKMzlwA Here, try it and see.]]
* OneSceneWonder: Even before he was recognizable Jim Carrey's hammy performance as Johnny Squares was pretty awesome. Hilarious in hindsight as well since he seems now like a character straight out of ''Series/InLivingColor''.
* RetroactiveRecognition:
** Creator/JimCarrey as Johnny Squares!!!
** Creator/LiamNeeson as Peter Swan.
** Creator/CharlesMartinet appears as an extra in the film, years before his StarMakingRole as [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]].
* SignatureScene: The infamous [=RC=] car chase.
* ValuesResonance:
** During the scene where they discover the real killer, the psychologist in charge of Harlan Rook makes it clear that most mentally ill people are not violent, and Harlan Rook, despite being a serial killer, is still portrayed sympathetically due to his mental illness. This portrayal was very rare in the 80's, and it is much more relevant today.
** Also the films commentary on media sensationalism and obsession with fame and celebrities has also stood the test of time.
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